Eduardo González
The Spanish Armed Forces have already trained more than 3,500 Ukrainian soldiers under the direction and coordination of the Toledo Training Coordination Center (TTCC) through more than 80 modules taught in various locations in our country, which makes Spain the third European contributor to the training of Ukrainian personnel.
This training has been carried out in Spain since November 2022 within the framework of the EUMAM UA mission (European Union Military Assistance Mission – Ukraine), directed and coordinated by the TTCC from its Headquarters located in Burgos, as recalled this week by the Ministry of Defense. in a press release.
This task of training the Ukrainian military is carried out, on the one hand, in the Combat Training Unit (UFC), permanent and located in Toledo, and on the other, through different specific training modules distributed throughout the rest of the national territory.
The Army has taught the courses on Basic Training, Maintenance of Armored Tracked Transport Vehicle, Leopard Tank Crew Member, Health Care for Combat Casualties, Counter Improvised Explosive Devices, Forest Assault Operations, Combat Sapper, and Training Course. Advanced Combat, Training of Non-Commissioned Officers, Demining, Operations Planning, Military Operations in Urban Terrain, HAWK Anti-Aircraft Missile, 105/14 Howitzer Crews, Advanced Artillery Observer, Geospatial Analysis and Cyberdefense.
For its part, the Navy has taken charge of the Basic Training and Operations Planning courses, while the Air and Space Army has taught the Air Support Driving and Aspide Anti-Aircraft Missile courses.
“Spain continues to firmly comply with the commitment made with the European Union to prepare Ukrainian soldiers in different combat capabilities and, since the beginning of the mission, Spanish soldiers have trained their Ukrainian counterparts and will continue to do so in specific modules during 2024,” concluded the Ministry.
Throughout 2023, according to Defense, Spain has continued its participation in the Contact Group for the Defense of Ukraine, known as the Ramstein format, and has reinforced its commitment within the EUMAM Ukraine operation.
Likewise, 86 transports of all types of material have been carried out, including 55 TOA vehicles, ten ‘Leopard’ battle tanks, civil and military ambulances, ten military trucks and various ammunition, as well as a Role 2B plus deployable hospital and more than 70 pallets with surgical and sanitary material.
In addition, a total of 89 Ukrainian soldiers have been transferred to national territory to receive medical treatment at the Zaragoza General Defense Hospital ‘Orad y Gajias’ and at the Central Defense Hospital ‘Gómez Ulla Centro de Vida y Esperanza’, all of them with large injuries that are difficult to treat that have required, in many cases, the implantation of prostheses and long rehabilitation processes. Defense also remembers the training of ten Ukrainian physiotherapists and rehabilitation doctors.
